Dukes County Residents Directory

Dukes County covers all of Martha's Vineyard and the small island of Gosnold. The Dukes County residents directory pulls from street lists, voter rolls, land records, and town clerk files kept across seven island towns. About 21,000 people live here year-round, but that number swells during summer months. Searching for residents on the island means working through Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah, and Gosnold. Each town runs its own annual census and holds its own set of public records. You can access most of this data for free or at low cost through online portals and in-person visits.

Dukes County Registry of Deeds

The Dukes County Registry of Deeds is a core source for the residents directory on Martha's Vineyard. This office records all land documents for the county. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements all pass through here. Each document names the people involved and ties them to a specific property address. When a home sells on the island, the deed transfer gets filed at this registry. That filing creates a public record linking the new owner to that location. Over time, these filings build a detailed picture of who has lived where in Dukes County.

The registry is at 81 Main Street in Edgartown. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. You can reach them by phone at (508) 627-4025. Walk-in visits work well for pulling older records or getting certified copies. Staff there can help you search the index books or use the computer terminals on site.

For online searches, the Massachusetts Land Records portal for Dukes County gives you free access to recorded documents. You can search by name, address, or document type. No account is needed. Results show the names on each filing, the recording date, and the book and page number. This is one of the fastest ways to check property ties for anyone in the Dukes County residents directory.

Dukes County Annual Census

Massachusetts requires every town to count its residents each year. Under M.G.L. c. 51, § 4, each municipality must conduct an annual census as of January 1. All seven Dukes County towns carry out this count. Census takers go door to door or mail forms to each household. The data they collect feeds directly into the residents directory for each island community. This is separate from the federal census. It happens every single year and captures who lives at each address on Martha's Vineyard.

The census creates street lists. These are public documents that show the name, age, and address of every resident age 17 and older. Under M.G.L. c. 51, § 6, anyone can get a copy of these lists from the town clerk. The cost is usually between $15 and $25. Street lists are among the most direct tools for a Dukes County residents directory search. They list people by address in a simple, easy-to-read format. Because the island population shifts so much between seasons, the January count gives a clear snapshot of who actually lives here full time.

Seasonal population changes make the Dukes County census unique. The year-round count sits near 21,000. In summer, that number can jump to over 100,000 with tourists and seasonal residents. The annual census captures the permanent base. If you need to find someone who stays only part of the year, voter rolls and property records may help fill the gaps.

Searching Dukes County Resident Records

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Open Government Guide for Massachusetts breaks down the state laws that control access to public records, including resident data held by Dukes County offices.

This guide explains your rights under the public records law and how to use them when searching for resident information in Dukes County. It covers what records are open, what can be withheld, and how to appeal a denial. If a town clerk on Martha's Vineyard turns down your request for street list data or voter rolls, the guide walks you through the steps to challenge that decision.

For a direct records request, you can use the state's online portal. The Massachusetts public records request system lets you submit requests to any state or local agency. Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, the agency has 10 business days to respond. The first four hours of search time are free. After that, fees cap at $25 per hour for staff time.

Dukes County Town Clerks

Each of the seven towns in Dukes County keeps its own resident records. The town clerk is the person to contact for street lists, voter rolls, birth and death records, and other directory data. Because Dukes County is spread across Martha's Vineyard, there is no single central office for all resident records. You need to go to the right town clerk based on where the person lives or lived.

Edgartown serves as the county seat. The Edgartown Town Clerk handles records for that area and can be reached at (508) 627-6110. Oak Bluffs, the next largest town, takes calls at (508) 693-3554. Tisbury, which includes the village of Vineyard Haven, has its clerk at (508) 696-4215. West Tisbury's clerk is at (508) 696-0147. Chilmark, a smaller town on the western end of the island, is at (508) 645-2110. Aquinnah, the smallest town, can be reached at (508) 645-2304. Gosnold, which covers the Elizabeth Islands, has very few year-round residents and a limited clerk office.

All of these offices keep the annual census data and street lists. Voter registration records are also held at each town clerk's office and are free to access. If you are building a picture of who lives in a particular part of Dukes County, the local town clerk is your best starting point.

Jury Lists and Voter Data

Prospective juror lists add another layer to the Dukes County residents directory. Under M.G.L. c. 234A, § 15, these lists are public records. They come from the annual census and include the names and addresses of residents who may be called for jury duty. You can request a copy from the court or from the Office of Jury Commissioner.

Voter registration lists are free in Massachusetts. Any person can get them from a town clerk or the Secretary of State. These rolls show the voter's name, address, party affiliation, and voting history. On Martha's Vineyard, voter lists are a practical tool for confirming that someone lives in a specific town within Dukes County. The rolls get updated regularly as people register, move, or drop off the list.

Property Records in Dukes County

Property records are a strong way to find residents on Martha's Vineyard. Real estate on the island holds high value, and transactions get recorded in detail at the registry of deeds. Each deed names the buyer and seller, lists the property address, and gets a permanent public record. Mortgage filings add more names. Tax records from each town assessor show who currently owns every parcel in Dukes County.

Island real estate has some traits that affect how you search. Many properties are held in trusts or family names that go back generations. Some parcels have seasonal owners who list out-of-state addresses. When you search the Dukes County residents directory through land records, keep in mind that the mailing address on file might not match the property location. Cross-checking with street lists and voter rolls helps sort out who actually lives on the island versus who owns property but resides elsewhere.

• Deed transfers link names to property addresses
• Mortgage records show additional parties tied to a home
• Town assessor files list the current owner of each parcel
• Trust documents may name the actual residents behind a trust
• Tax bills go to the mailing address on file, which may differ from the property location

Towns in Dukes County

Dukes County has seven towns, all located on Martha's Vineyard and the nearby Elizabeth Islands. Each town keeps its own resident records through the local clerk's office. There are no large cities in Dukes County. Edgartown is the county seat and the main hub for county-level records. Oak Bluffs and Tisbury are the other two larger towns. West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah, and Gosnold round out the county with smaller populations.

Nearby Counties

These counties are closest to Dukes County. If the person you are looking for lives on Cape Cod or the other island county, their records may be filed in one of these places instead.